If nothing else, the Mets management showed this week that they understand the sunk cost fallacy. Earlier, they traded away Max Scherzer, and today they traded away their other high priced veteran pitcher, Justin Verlander:

The Astros reached agreement with the New York Mets on Tuesday to reacquire Verlander, bringing the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner back to Houston, the team announced Tuesday. Outfielder Drew Gilbert, rated as the Astros’ best prospect by MLB.com, is heading to New York in the deal, as is minor league outfielder Ryan Clifford. 

…

His contract also included a $35 million option for 2025 that vests if he accumulates at least 140 innings in 2024, a circumstance that scared teams away. The Mets will pay $35 million out of the $58 million remaining on Verlander’s deal in 2023 and 2024 and $17.5 million of his 2025 option if it vests, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. 

ESPN.com

Signing the two old aces didn’t work out well for the Mets. Rather than keep on keeping on, the Mets are trying to retool quickly by bringing in young talent, paying off other teams to take the contracts.

Gilbert plays AA ball at seasonal age 22, and he’s been just okay there. Clifford, only seasonal age 19, is raking in A ball and looks like the better player long term.

And while the Mets are still paying a good portion of Verlander’s and Scherzer’s contracts, they have freed some money to reinvest in free agents come the winter.